Inter-device communication system, apparatus and control method therefor

• US 9,584,650 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Minhun, Choi, Sungha
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US14/761,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20150365513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/418, 455/456.4, 455/41.2, 455/420, 340/441, 340/989
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inter-device communication system, an apparatus and a control method therefor that determines compliance with driver distraction regulations and that provides restricted services to a device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inter-device communication system comprising: a server device for providing one or more services to client devices; and a plurality of client devices for receiving the one or more services from the server device, for storing driver distraction support information indicating whether services comply with the driver distraction regulations, and for restrictedly outputting the received one or more services based on the stored driver distraction support information.

Claims

1. An inter-device communication system for sharing services within a vehicle, the inter-device communication system comprising:

a server device configured to;

share at least one service wirelessly with at least one client device, and

determine whether the at least one client device is a head unit or not based on the location of the at least one client device,

wherein the at least one client device is located in the vehicle, and

wherein the at least one client device is further configured to;

set driver distraction support information indicating whether a driver of the vehicle is to be regulated by a driver distraction regulation,

restrict the output of the received at least one service based on the set driver distraction support information if the at least one client device is the head unit, and

provide the output of the received at least one service if the at least one client device is not the head unit.

2. The inter-device communication system of claim 1, wherein the driver distraction support information is included in device identification information on the at least one client device.

3. The inter-device communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one client restricts a portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device based on the stored driver distraction support information.

4. The inter-device communication system of claim 3, wherein if a moving speed information of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a prescribed speed, the at least one client device is further configured to restrict the portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device, and

wherein if the moving speed information of the vehicle is less than the prescribed speed, the at least one client device is further configured to output all portions of the received at least one service on the at least one client device.

5. The inter-device communication system of claim 3, wherein if a transmission state information of the vehicle indicates a drive state or a reverse state, the at least one client device is further configured to restrict the portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device, and

wherein if the transmission state information of the vehicle indicates a stopped driving state, the at least one client device is further configured to output all portions of the received at least one service on the at least one client device.

6. The inter-device communication system of claim 3, wherein if a battery level information of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a prescribed numerical value, the at least one client device is further configured to restrict the portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device.

7. The inter-device communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one client device includes a first client device and a second client device,

wherein the server device is a mobile device that is located in the vehicle,

wherein the first client device is configured to transmit a service restriction request to the server device, and

wherein the server device is further configured to provide a restricted service to the second client device based on the service restriction request transmitted by the first client device.

8. The inter-device communication system of claim 7, wherein the first client device is further configured to transmit a control signal to the second client device for controlling the second client device through the server device, and

wherein the second client device is further configured to launch a corresponding function based on the control signal.

9. An inter-device communication system for a vehicle, the inter-device communication system comprising:

at least one client device configured to output a service provided by a server device; and

the server device configured to;

establish a session with the at least one client device,

detect a location in the vehicle of the at least one client device that the session is established,

determine whether the at least one client device is a head unit or not based on the location of the at least one client device,

provide a restricted service to the at least one client device if the at least one client device is the head unit, and

provide an unrestricted service to the at least one client device if the at least one client device is not the head unit.

10. The inter-device communication system of claim 9, wherein the at least one client device includes a first client device and a second client device,

wherein the first client device is further configured to transmit a service restriction request to the server device, and

wherein the server device is further configured to provide a restricted service to the second client device based on the service restriction request.

11. The inter-device communication system of claim 10, wherein the first client device is further configured to transmit a control signal to the second client device for controlling the second client device through the server device, and

wherein the second client device is further configured to launch a corresponding function based on the control signal.

12. A method of controlling an inter-device communication system, the method comprising:

sharing at least one service between a server device and at least one client device;

determining whether the at least one client device is a head unit or not based on the location of the at least one client device;

setting, by the at least one client device, driver distraction support information in the at least one client device indicating whether a driver of the vehicle is to be regulated by a driver distraction regulation;

restricting, by the at least one client device, the output of the received at least one service on the at least one client device based on the stored driver distraction support information when the at least one client device is the head unit; and

providing, by the at least one client device, the output of the received at least one service when the at least one client device is not the head unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the driver distraction support information is included in device identification information on the at least one client device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

restricting a portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device based on the stored driver distraction support information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if a moving speed information of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a prescribed speed, restricting the portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device; and

if the moving speed information of the vehicle is less than the prescribed speed, outputting all portions of the received at least one service on the at least one client device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if a transmission state information of the vehicle indicates a drive state or a reverse state, restricting the portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device; and

if the transmission state information of the vehicle indicates a stopped driving state, outputting all portions of the received at least one service on the at least one client device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if a battery level information of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a prescribed numerical value, restricting the portion of the received at least one service output on the at least one client device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one client device includes a first client device and a second client device,

wherein the first client device transmits a service restriction request to the server device, and

wherein the server device provides a restricted service to the second client device based on the service restriction request transmitted by the first client device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first client device transmits a control signal to the second client device for controlling the second client device through the server device, and

wherein the second client device launches a corresponding function based on the control signal.